Improvement in hoop-skirts



i 2 Sheets-5heet 1.

A. BENJAMIN.

HOOP-SKIRT S.

N o 191 Z, 7 7. Patented May 2 9, 1877.

' NFETERS, PHOTOUTHOGRAPHER, WASHmGTON. D c.

Z Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. BENJAMIN.

HOOP-SKIRTS.

YT'f'Z Patented May 29,1877.

INVENTOR WASHINGTON D C UNI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' ALFRED BENJAMIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEM ENT IN HOOP-SKIRTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 191,277, dated May 29, 1877; application filed March 29, 1877.

To all whom 26 may concern:

Be it known that l, ALFRED BENJAMIN, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hoop-Skirts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hoop-skirts, the object of the same being to provide a hoop-skirt wherein the springs are secured by machine-sewing without the aid of clasps or spangles.

Hoop-skirts as heretofore manufactured have the skirt-spring secured by means of metallic clasps or spangles, which are inserted through the tape or fabric of the skirt, and the sharp ends of the fastening devices bent against the braided skirt-spring. This method of securing thesprings is defective, owing to the fact that the clasps or spangles are continually catching on other articles of wearing-apparel, and thereby become disengaged from the skirt, allowing the springs to bulge out at diiferent places and destroy the shape of the skirt. Again, when the claspsare lost from the skirtit is a matter of considerable difliculty and annoyance to repair the same, as the metallic clasps are necessary to prevent the longitudinal displacement of the s rings.

r'igure 1 represents a section of a hoopek IT- embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged view of a section of one of .w springs. Figs. 3 and 4 are modifications.

A represents the spring, having one or both edges provided with a cord, at, which is secured to the edges during the process of banding, as fully described in a separate application filed even date with this application. Springs A are attached to the tapes B of the skirt by means of stitches b passed through the cord or cords on the side of the metallic spring, and through the tape or fabric of the skirt or pompadour, to which the springs are to be secured.

The springs may be stitched continuously along their edges, or only at the point where it is desired to attach the spring to the skirt.

A hoop-skirt manufactured in accordance with my invention possesses many advantages over those of ordinary construction. All metallic clasps with their sharp engaging points are dispensed with, and the skirt rendered lighter and of more tasteful appearance than the skirts now in the market. As the edges of the springs are protected by a yielding material, which is firmly secured thereto, the springs last much longer than those of ordinary make, as the yielding material serves to prevent the edge of the spring from cutting the threads, and thereby destroying the appearance and utility of the springs.

The ordinary hoop-skirt springs may be sewed to the skirt by means of a sewing-machine, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Two needles are employed, and the spring is guided between said needles, enabling a stitch to be formed on each side of the spring while the stitches are looped together around the spring, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

When the springs are secured in the manner last described to the tapes, it is desirable to further secure by means of spangles, in order to.prevent the longitudinal movement of the springs.

In order that the springs may be accurately guided beneath the needle of the sewing-machine, the pressure-foot is formed with a groove in line with the direction of the movement of the feed, and serves to keep the spring from lateral movement while the needle passes through the corded edges of the same.

The same object may be accomplished by forming a groove in the cloth-plate, and thus keep the spring in a fixed relative position to the needle.

It is evident that springs of the construction shown may be used for many purposes by being stitched to any desired fabric.

Having fully described my invention, what said 'corded'edgeor edges, ihstantial'ly as i 1 I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetand for the purpose set forth; i i tors Patent, is- V V V V In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 'As a new article of'manufaioture; a hoophave hereunto setmy'hand'and'seal this 19th 1 5 skirt having hoops formed with cords secured day of March, 187 7. V V to oneer both edges 0f the same by'the braid, I ALFRED BENJAMIN. 'LL. 8.]

a portion of the threads of which pass be Witnesses: tween the cord and spring, said hoops being; NELsoN CRAWFORD, V secured to the skirt by stitchespassing through CIA. G0DLEY.': 

